Pattern and measuring mechanism for knitting-machines.



F. B. WILDMAN & G. L. BALLARD.

V PATTERN AND MEASURING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. 1,@3,,87.

P 5 m 0 H N u 1 D 1 E H F N v 0 H A C u P. P A

'wfummm Inventors;

fiankfiT Va'ldmamg,

j Z Georg L.BaZ rd,

6 M 1, Mia/Wm PEYERS :mrxumumm WASMINGYON. u ::v

F. B. WILDMAN & G. L. BALLARD.

PATTERN AND MEASURING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 19l5. I 1,203,087. Patented Oct. 61,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHE ET 2.

"1 HUN: M

II N

F. B. WILDMAN & G. L. BALLARD.

PATTERN AND MEASURING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I0. 1915.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IIIWIIII III II I771; enters.- I'n k a. Wzmmn,

m: NnRRIi #21:: cu. mom-1.1mm. wasmucmu. u. c

F. B. WILDMAN & L. BALLARD. PATTERN AND MEASURING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICAHON FILED JUNE 10, 19'5- M a)! if *4 l xf); I

m: Noun? PETENS m v Puma LIYN!) WASHINGTON. n c

UNTTED hiTATlE% T @Fh llfl t FRANK B. WILDMAN AND GEORGE L. BALLARD, F ITURRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO WILDMAN MFG. 00., 0F NORRI-STOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PATTERN AND MEASURING MECHANISIFK FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Application filed June 10, 1915.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK B. VVILDMAN, a citizen of the -United States, and Gnonsn L. BALLARD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern and ll leasuring Mechanism for llnitting-li lachines, of which the following is a specifics tion.

One object of our invention is to provide a measuring means for the pattern mechanism of knitting machines which shall measure by the actual length of the fabric. Means directed to this end have been employed heretofore, and we would'mention in this connection the toothed fabric roller as shown as an example in Letters Patent of the United States granted to us June 24, 1913, #1965387, at 19, operated by direct engagement with the fabric and connected to the measuring wheel or ratchet 8 to drive the same. While measuring mechanism operated by this card roller engaging the fabric produces good results and has met I with favor by users of machines equipped therewith, there is a lack of accuracy and certainty in the use of the'card roller owing to the variations in the tension of the fabric with which the card roller engages'on its way to the take-up from the knitting head.

In carrying out. our invention we discard the use of the fabric roller and secure an initial drive for our measuring means from means moving in consonance with the rota tion of the take-up rolls. As is well under-. stood by those skilled in the art, each time the take-up rolls make one revolution a definite and u varying length of fabric has 40 passed between said rolls, and by driving the measuring mechanism in exact accord with the take-up rolls it will be seen that for each revolution ofthe take-up roll or part thereof we get. a definite and unvarying length or degree of movement of our measuring member, and if this is in the form of a wheel each revolution of said take-up rolls will cause a rotation of the measuring wheel through a certain definite angle, and accurate measurement according to the length of fabric is thus secured.

Broadly speaking, it is not new to operate pattern mechanism in consonance with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 33,306.

rotation of the takeup rolls, as such mechanism is disclosed iii-Letters Patent of the United States granted to F. B. l/Vildman, 642,402, and 642,408, January 80, 1900. (Eur present invention is an improvement on the pattern mechanism there shown.

lln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view of so much of a circular knit ting machine as is necessary to an understanding of our invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view with the knitting head removed and parts shown in section; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the take-up mechanism and the measuring mechanism associated therewith; f is a face view of the main pattern mechanism; Fig. 5 is a detail view. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views.

The inventionis shown in connection with a machine of the rotary needle cylinder type, but it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves in this respect, as the broad features of our invention can be carried out in connection with machines of the rotarv cam cylinder type. V

In the drawings, 1 is the knitting head which may be for making rib or plain fabric.

2 is the fixed head base connected by standards or housings 3 supported on the fixed base ring f. The revolving take-up ring 5 is supported in the fixed base ring 4: and it is rotated from the rotary needle cylinder as in common practice by the hangers 6. This take-up ring carries the take-up mechanism. This may be of any desired form, but in the particular construction we show this mechanism as embodying the essential features shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to F. B. VVildman, 601,297, March 29, 1898, and G. L. Ballard, November 23, 1909, #940,656, involving a pair 'of take-up rollers 7, 8, between which the fabric is drawn. These rollers are geared together at 9 to rotate in unison. They are journaled in the hangers 6 and they bodily revolve with the take-up ring. The take-up roll 8 is driven by a worm wheel 10 thereon, with which meshes a worm 11. This worm is driven through a friction clutch like that shown in Fig. 4 of the Ballard patent mentioned, and which is indicated generally or in outline at 12. One member of this fraction clutch is keyed to the vertical shaft 13 and is pressed down into frictional driving Patented oer. 31, rate.

contact with the other member for driving the worm 11 by a lever mechanism under spring tension, acting according to the demands of the fabric production to rotate said lower member to which the worm 11 is con nected to rotate therewith. The shaft 13 is driven constantly through a gear 14 on its lower end meshing with a stationary rack 15 which is connected to the fixed base ring 4 by the hanger 16. This take-up mechanism is well understood by those skilled in the art and needs no further comment, the net result of the use of such take-up mechanism being that each rotation of the takeup rolls represents a definite length of fabric which has passed between them. This being so, we

drive our measuring member positively from the worm 11 which, of course, rotates uniformly with the take-up rollers and in a certain definiteratio in respect thereto. This measuring member may assume difierent forms, but in the particular construction shown it is in the form of a wheel 17 having ratchet teeth 18. It is mounted on a vertical stationary post 19 supported on the take-up ring 5. This measuring wheel is frictionally connected to a worm wheel 23 by a friction hand brake 20 which is clamped by a screw 21 to the hub of the worm wheel 23 mounted to turn on the stationary post 19. The band is fiber lined, and has a pin 22 which extends up into the measuring wheel. The wheel 17, by reason of this friction connection, is turned when the worm wheel 23 is turned, and it is capable of being advanced or rotated independently of said worm wheel, the said friction band slipping in this action. The worm 23 is rotated in unison with and always in the same ratio to the worm 11 through a worm 24 on a shaft 25 journaled in a bracket 25 fixed on the take-up ring, Fig. 1. This shaft carries another worm wheel 26 which is driven from the main worm 11 of the take up mechanism. In addition to the slow measuring movement due to the friction drive just mentioned, the measuring wheel 17 is capable of being rotated step by step, one step for each revolution of the knitting head by a pawl 27 engaging its ratchet teeth 18. This pawl is carried by an arm 28 loosely mounted on the post 19..

The arm has an extension or step portion 19 provided with a set screw 29 to strike against the arm or extension 6* of the hanger with the takeup ring, this bracket being at all times in fixed relation to said ring.

The pawl arm 28 1S moved to turn the ratchet by striking a cam 32 and riding against the inner face thereof as the takeup ring and the mechanism carried thereby, including the saidarm, revolves. This cam is fixed on the innerside of one of the stationary housings 3. When the pawl arm is moved by striking this cam, the pawl 27 will be given a throw to turn the measuring wheel, provided the said wheel is in position so that one of its teeth 18 is exposed to be engaged by said pawl. The measuring wheel, however, carries an adjustable measuring plate or block, or any desired number of these may be used. We show two in Fig. 2 at These are fixed to the measuring wheel by screws 3% passing through slots in the plates and into threaded openings 35 in the upper face of the measuring wheel, there being one of these openings for every ratchet tooth. The measuring plates shield the teeth against engagement therewith by the pawl 27 and more or less of the teeth may be shielded by using extension measuring plates as at 36. During the time the pawl is on the edge of one of these plates, vas shown 1n Fig. 2, the throw of the pawl due to its carrying arm 28 striking the cam 32 will be without effect on the measuring wheel, which now will be performing its slow measuring movement through the described connections with the take-up rolls or rather with the take-up worm 11, and during this time the measuring of the pattern will be in accordance with the actual length of fabric passing through the take-up rolls. When, now, this slow measuring movement in accordance with the actual length of fabric has taken place and the pawl has dropped off of the measuring plate due to the said plate having passed'the pawl andthe pawl spring 37 exerting its force, the pawl. will be in engagement with the end of the plate or with a tooth of the ratchet, and the next advance movement of the pawl arm by the cam 32 will give a quick step movement of the measuring wheel and this advancement of the measuring wheel will cause the cam cone or stud39 on the measuring plate to come under and raise the pin 40 mounted in thebracket 31, and as this pinis connected through a rod 41 with a pin e2 slidably mounted in the post 19, said pin. will be lifted also and elevate its arm 42* into the path of a trip finger e3 which controls the main pattern mechanism, so that this will then be started to perform its cycle of operations. 'This main pattern mechanism is shown generally-at A. It may assume various forms, but in the particular construction shown. it includes a pattern wheel or wheels 44 four of these being shown fixed on a shaft 45 to which'is fixed a pattern ratchet wheel at. The shaft is journaled in a bracket 48 fixed to one of. the stationary housings 3. The pattern ratchetwheel 46 is operated by a pawl 47 whenthe latter is free to engage therewith, said pawl being pivotally mounted on aslide 48 moving in bearings 49* fixed to said bracket. The slide is operated by an arm at the upper end of arock shaft 51 journaled in the bracket 48 and in the lower stationary bracket The rock shaft is pressed by a spring 53 to retract the slide e. to the right, Fig. 1), and it is operated in the other direction to advance the slide and give the pawl its effective stroke by an arm at the lower end of the rock shaft which is struck by a cam 55 supported by a post or posts 56 from the revolving take-up ring to revolve therewith about the axis of the machine. This rock shaft is operated one or more times for eacn revolution of the machine, according to the number of cams used, but though the pawl 47 will perform its stroke, it is not always effective in turning the pattern ratchet. It isshown in 1 as rendered ineffective because it is resting upon a controller 57 consisting of an arm pivoted at 58 to the side of the bracket 48 and held in the position shown by a catch 59 engaging its inner end and maintaining its outer end raised with the pawl above the ratchet. The controller is raised to the position shown by a pin 69 on a controlling chain as hereinafter referred to. I

The catch consists of an arm having an upturned end notched at 60 for receiving the inner end of the controller, said arm being fixed to the upper end of the rock shaft (31 journaled in bearings 62 fixed to the bracket 48*, the said rock shaft being pressed by a spring 63 to hold the catch in operative position, 2'. 6., in holding engagement with the inner end of the controller. The trip finger 48 before mentioned is connected with the lower end of the rock shaft 61. Now, when through the slow measuring action of the measuring wheel 17 operating in a certain ratio to the fabric length passing the take-up rolls, the pawl 27 is allowed to become effective in giving the measuring wheel its quick step movement, and the cam stud 39 has, as a result, lifted the arm 42 through the described connections, the trip finger 43 will be operated, and the catch 59 will be withdrawn, freeing the controller 57 which now falls at its free end and allows the'pawl 47 to engage the pattern ratchet wheel. /Vhen the pattern ratchet is turned, the shaft 45 will be turned also, and the pattern wheels 44 will be rotated step by step, and as these pattern wheels carry pattern blocks 44 to operate levers 63, 64, 65, 66, said levers will be operated. Tlfese levers are connected in any suitable manner to variousdevices on the machine for controlling the pattern or character of the stitch. Vi e have shown one of these connections at 64 in part, and a connection at 65 which latter will be referred to hereinafter, as an example of one of the many functions of the machine which the pattern mechanism can be used to con trol. This particular connection will control yarn changers for striping as will be set forth later on. The connections leading from some of the levers have been omitted, for instance, levers 63 and 66, to avoid complication in the drawing. Some or all of the levers may have arms 67 pressed upwardly by springs 68 to restore the levers and the parts operated thereby to their normal positions after they have been operated by the blocks on the pattern wheels. The

springs 68 may be seated in sockets of the bracket 48*.

Associated with the main pattern drum made up of the before-mentioned wheels 44 on the shaft 45 is a controlling chain a. This chain is driven by a toothed chain wheel a loose on the shaft45 and driven by the pawl. 47 engaging teeth a on said wheel;

The chain thus can be driven independently ofthe pattern ratchet wheel 46. The chain is provided with links of three different heights, which exert control on the pawl 47. The low links Z) allow the pawl to drop far enough to engage the ratchet 46 and turn the same when the pawl is freed from the controller 57 by the dropping of the latter as above described. The medium height links I) are used to secure a dwell in the effective operation of the pawl because while these links are under the pawl it will not reach the teeth of the pattern ratchet 46 and hence the pawl will work idly so far as the pattern drum 44, 44, is concerned. The pawl, however, will engage the teeth a of the chain ratchet and the chain will thus be pawled around. l/Vhen the pawl 47 falls all the way down, it will move the pattern ratchet 46 by engaging its teeth and will also move the idler or chain ratchet a, and it will continue to do this until a medium height link 12' comes around, when the pawl will be lifted to miss the teeth of the pattern ratchet but will still be in range of the idler ratchet teeth (1 The lifting of the pawl by the medium height link will stop the pattern ratchet 46, but as just stated the chain ratchet will continue to move because its teeth extend out beyond the edge of the medium high link. When a low link again comes beneath the pawl this will fall and engage the pattern ratchet to turn the same. These actions will continue until the pattern drum has made a complete revolution, or such part of a full revolution as will complete one cycleof movement and the pattern has been completed. 77 hen a complete movement or cycle of the pattern ratchet hasbeen catch 59 is operated by the measuring mech anism, which it would not do had the pin 69 not been advanced from beneath the controller as just described. After the pawl has moved the chain by engaging with the teeth 7 0, 71, the movement of the chain ceases for as long as the pawl remains up. Furthermore, the pattern ratchet remains at rest for as long as the pawl is held up by the controller 57 or in other words, the whole main pattern mechanism A remains at rest, and during this time the measuring action of the measuring wheel 17 goes on and at the prescribed time the controller will be released by the striking of the trip wire 43 by the arm 42 as already described, and the pawl 47 will then drop. I

In order to insure that the pattern ratchet and chain be maintained in time with each other, we provide a long tooth X in the pattern ratchet, this being longer than the normal stroke of the pawl, and when this comes under the pawl the pattern ratchet will stop, and it will remain in this position until a high link on the chain comes under and lifts the pawl which, in turn, lifts a stop finger 72 (which reciprocates with the pawl) so that the rear end 72* of this will be depressed below the level of the fixed stop 73 on the frame whereupon the pawl can perform a long stroke and thus engage the next tooth following'the long tooth, and then the movement of the ratchet will be resumed and this will take place at a definite fixed relation to the movement of the chain. By the use of the measuring wheel 17 the main pattern wheel is out of action until the patternis to be formed by said main pattern mechanism, and then it is thrown into action. By this a short chain may be used.

Reverting to the means for varying the length of stroke of the pawl 17 tosecure the timing action between the pattern ratchet 46 and the controller chain a, the stop lever or finger 72 is mounted on the same pivot with the pawl l7, but is capable of. having pivotal movement independently of said pawl. This stop finger is under tension of a spring 7a which tends constantly to force its forward end downwardly. This forward I end of the stop finger, as shown in Fig. 2,

During the normal working of the pawl, a. e., when it is engaging either the teeth of the pattern ratchet or the teeth of the chain ratchet a, the pawl is down, or part way down, and in either case the stop finger is in such position, being controlled by the position of the pawl, that its rear end is in line with the fixed stop stud 73 on the fixed bearing 19, so that as the pawl slide 48 retracts under the action of the spring 53 and the rock shaft 51, the end of the stop finger will strike the said stop stud and the pawl 47 will be arrested or limited to its short stroke, it being understood that the pawl slide 18 on this stroke is driven by the spring 53, and therefore the slide can be arrested to make the stroke a shorter one than the full stroke of which the spring is capable of imparting to the slide.

As above described, when a long tooth of the pattern ratchet such as shown at X comes under'the pawl, then so long as the short strokes of the pawlare maintained as just described by the stop finger 72, 72 striking the stop stud 7 3. the pattern ratchet will remain at rest because the length of the pawls stroke is not far enough back to engage the next tooth. Now for starting the patternratchet it is necessary to give the pawl a long rearward stroke inorder that 'it may engage the next tooth in the rear.

This is done by the high'point on the chain coming under the pawl and lifting it, and this action causes the lifting of the front end of the stop finger because of its engagement with the pawl at a7, thus throwing its rear end below the level of the fixed stop so that the spring 53 and rock shaft 51 can move the slide 48, togetherwith the pawl 47, far enough rearwardly to cause the pawl to engage the next tooth in the ratchet- It will be seen from the above that the pattern ratchet and chain will be kept in time, because the starting of the ratchet, after the long tooth has come under the pawl, is dependent on the chain reaching a certain predetermined relation thereto.

Now, regarding one example of the functions performed by the pattern mechanism, reference is made to the applications for Letters Patentof the United States of G.

L. Ballard, 840,378, filed May 22, 1914:, or 7 851,152, filed July 15, 191 1, in which yarn changer mechanism is controlled by star wheels as at 80 on the main frame operated by pins 81, 82, on the take-up ring. Of these pins the' one marked 81.is shiftable radially into and out of operative position in relation to the starwheels. These-star wheels, as in the applications referred to, have wide and narrowteeth. The pin 81 is shifted by a lever 83 having a pin 84: which strikes a cam 85 on the main frame. This cam is shifted vertically to be in line or in the plane of movement either with the pin 84 or the pin 81, these pins being at different levels. hen in line with the pin 81 this is moved inwardly to inoperative position, and misses the star wheels, and at the same time the other pin 84 is moved outwardly to be in'line with the cam 85 when this is shifted vertically into the Plane of movement of the said pin 84. When the pin 84 hits the cam, said pin is moved radially inward and the other pin 81 is moved outward so as to strike the narrow teeth of the star wheels. The cam 85 is moved vertically by a rod 65 connected to the lever 65 which, as above described, is operated by the pattern drum.

, We claim as our invention:

1. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, pattern mechanism including a measuring means traveling bodily with the needle cylinder, a part of said pattern mechanism being on the fixed frame and controlled from said traveling measuring means, that portion on the main frame including a step by step pattern member, with means for operating the same from a. part traveling'in unison with the rotary needle cylinder, and connections leading to parts of the knitting machine from said fixed frame pattern means to be controlled thereby.

2. In combination in a knittingmachine having rotary needle cylinder, pattern mechanism on the fixed frame, take-up mechanism and measuring means traveling bodily with the rotary needlecylinder, said measuring means being operated in consonance with the length of fabric produced, and means operated by the said measuring means for starting the fixed frame pattern mechanism, said fixed frame pattern mechanism throwing itself out of operation after it has performed a prescribed cycle of movement.

3. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, take-up mechanism traveling bodily with the rotary needle cylinder including take-up rolls with means for rotating them as they revolve bodily with the machine, pattern mechanism in part supported on the fixed frame, said pattern mechanism including measuring means traveling bodily with the needle cylinder and take-up, said measuring means controlling the operation of the pattern mechanism on the fixed frame, and ,means for driving the measuring means from the takeup mechanism in consonance withthe takeup movement of the take-up rolls, substantially as described. a

4:. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, pattern mechanism on the fixed frame and measuring means traveling with the needle cylinder measuring means, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, pattern mechanism on the fixed frame, a controller for said pattern mechanism, a measuring member on the rotary part of the machine traveling bodily therewith, means for op erating said measuring means in consonance with the length of fabric produced, and trip mechanism for the controller on the fixed frame and operated by the said traveling measuring means to start the said pattern mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, take-up mechanism revolving with the machine and including take-up rolls, means for rotating the take-up rolls, pattern mechanism on the fixed frame, a measuring member rotating about a vertical axis, off to one side of but parallel to the axis of the machine, means for driving said measuring member in concontact on the fixed frame controlling the pattern mechanism, and a contact traveling with the machine and shifted into and out of operative position, to hit or miss the framecontact, by the measuring member,

said measuring member consisting of a wheel turning about a vertical axis ofi to one side of and parallel with the machines axis and said shifting contact moving vertically, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, take-up rolls revolving bodily about the axis of the machine, means for rotating the takeup rolls, a measuring wheel rotatable about a vertical axis and traveling bodily about the axis of the machine with the take-up, means' for giving the measuring wheel a slow rotation in consonance with the rotation of the take-up rolls about their own axes, means for giving the measuring wheel a quick step by step movement, a pattern mechanism mounted on the fixed frame, contact means on the fixed frame controlling the pattern mechanism and contact means traveling with the take-up and measuring wheel, and shifted by the said measuring wheel for hitting or missing the contact first mentioned to thereby control the main pattern mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, take-up rolls revolving bodily about the axis of the machine, means for rotating the take-up rolls, a measuring wheel rotatable about a vertical axis ed to one side of and parallel with the machines axis and traveling bodily about the axis of the machine with the takeup, means for giving the measuring wheel a slow rotation in consonance with the rotation of the take-up rolls about their own axes, means for giving the measuring wheel a quick step by step movement, a pattern mechanism mounted on the fixed frame, contact means on the fixed frame controlling the pattern mechanism and contact means traveling with the take 'up and measuring wheel, and shifted by thesaid measuring wheel for hitting or missing the contact first mentioned to thereby control the main pattern mechanism, said shifting contact being movable vertically and said measuring wheel having a cam forlifting said contact, sub stantially as described.

10. In combination a rotary needle cylinder, a revolving take-up including take-up rolls, a worm rotating about a vertical axis for driving the same, a friction clutch for driving the worm, means for varying the pressure at the friction clutch according to the demands of the tension of the fabric, a ineasuring'wheel, a vertical post traveling with the take-up and about which the measuring Wheel turns, a friction drive oonnection between the said worm and the measuring wheel, a fixed frame contact and a contact traveling with the measuring wheel for operating the latter step by step by the striking of said contacts, a pattern mechanism on the'fixed frame, and means forcontrolling the samev from the II1LS' uring wheel, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, take-up mechanism I revolving bodily with the machine, a fixed rack on the machine, a gear connected with the take-u mechanism and en a in the.

rack to be operated thereby, measuring means revolving bodily about the axis of the machine with the take-up mechanism, a pattern mechanism on the fixed frame, a reciprocating pawl for operating the same, means for operating the pawl from a rotary part of the machine, a controller for the pawl'on the fixed frame to maintainit out of operative relation to the pattern mecha nism, means on the fixed frame for holding the controller in eifective position, a contact traveling with the measuring means and shifted thereby, and a contact on the fixed frame to be struck by the shifting contact to the pawl, a pin on the controlling member for operating thecontroller to hold the pawl out of operation, the said pattern ratchet having an extra long tooth, means'for limiting the stroke of'the pawl to agree with the distance between the short teeth of the pattern ratchet'wheel, said means beingop erated by the high blocks on the controlling member to allow the pawl to have a long stroke, and a latch for'retaining the'pawl controller and measuring means for controlling the latch, substantially as described.

13. 1n combination a pattern ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl to operate the same, a controller chain'to act on the pawl to'control its engagement withthepattern ratchet, said pattern ratchet having short teeth and a long tooth, means. for stopping the pawl on its rearward stroke to make the length of stroke of said pawl agree with the short teeth, means on' the controller chain for eliminating the stopping of the pawl to allow the same to perform a longer stroke to carry it beyond the limit of the long tooth, whereby the said pattern ratchet and controller chain are kept in time, said stop means consisting of a pivoted member moving with the pawl and a'stop on the frame to engage said pivoted member, substantially as described.

14. In combination a pattern drum, a pattern ratchet thereon, a reciprocating pawl to engage the pattern ratchet, a pivotally mounted controller member for lifting the pawl from the ratchet, a catch for holding the controlling member with the pawl lifted, a controlling chain having a pin to engage the pivoted pawl controller, the said controlling chainhaving links of three difierent heights, the low links permitting the pawl to eiigagethe teeth of the pattern ratchet, the intermediate height links preventing the pawl from engaging the pattern ratchet while allowing it to engage the chain ratchet, and the high links having teeth to be engaged bythe pawl to carry the pin from under the pivoted pawl controller, the said pattern ratchet having along tooth, means for lriving thepawl positively forward, and a spring-for returning the pawl for its rear stroke, variable stop means for regulating the length of the rearward stroke carry it over the long tooth and in position of the pawl, the said stop means being conto engage the short teeth, substantially as 1,; trolled by the controlling chain so that the described.

pawl Will perform a short stroke to engage FRANK B. WILDMAN. 5 the short teeth, and bring the controller GEORGE L. BALLARD.

chain and pattern ratchet in time when the Witnesses:

long tooth comes beneath the pawl and the E. R. ROBERTS,

pawl will then perform a long stroke to OWEN BALLARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

